Vegetable slicer



Feb. 9, 1960 Filed April 22, 1957 P. M. REILAND VEGETABLE SLICER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l 43 ii 5 4 Z6 Z9 44 INVENTOR.

Pefer M, Rel/and BY aim, I /WTfiY Feb. 9, 1960 P. M. REILAND VEGETABLE SLICER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 22, 1957 v INVENTOR. Pefer M Pei/and BY Qmzzd R 1 A/ X United States Patent VEGETABLE SLICER Peter M. Reiland, St. Paul, Minn.

Application April 22, 1957, Serial No. 654,145

2 Claims. (Cl. 146-78) This invention relates to an improvement in vegetable slicer and deals particularly with an apparatus useful in the cutting of potatoes and other vegetables into strips. During recent years the use of French fried potatoes and shoe string potatoes has become extremely widespread. The use of other vegetables cut into strips has also increased. Numerous devices have been produced for cutting vegetables of this type. However, in many instances care has not been taken to prevent compression of the strips as they are cut. As a result, considerable force is required to move the vegetables .past the cutters and the effectiveness of the cutting operation is decreased.- I

An object of the present invention resides in the provision of a vegetable slicer which includes a hollow receptacle designed to accommodate the vegetable being sliced and a platform over which this receptacle may slide. A series of cutters are provided in the path of movement of the vegetable, the cutters being designed to first cut the vegetable horizontally into one or more relatively thin slices, and then to slice the vegetable longitudinally of the movement of the receptacle to cut the strips into elongated sections.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of lever means operable for moving the receptacle longitudinally of its supporting table. Lever arms are provided which are pivotally supported by opposed pivots to the frame of the apparatus. Links are provided which connect one end of each lever to the receptacle. Thus, upon pivotal movement of the lever about the axis thereof, each lever operates in unison to move the receptacle longitudinally of the supporting table to effect the cutting operation.

A feature of the present invention resides in the specific shape of the lever operating means which move the receptacle longitudinally of the supporting table. The levers are so shaped that as the vegetable to be sliced approaches slicing position, the handle levers swing beyond vertical position and start their swinging movement rearwardly and downwardly toward the table. Thus, the force upon the lever arms .which acts to move the vegetable through the cutter blades includes a rearward and downward force which tends to hold the table firmly uponits support. The arrangement is such that as the cutting'continues, the inclinationof the levers toward horizontal position increases. Thus, the apparatus may be actuated without the necessity of mounting the slicer in fixed position upon a support and may be merely placed upon a counter or similar support.

1 "A feature of the present invention resides in the particu- Ian-"arrangement of cutting blades which are employed. After the vegetable has been sliced horizontally into one or more thin slices or wafers, these wafers are urged against a series of substantially vertically extending knife blades which cut the wafers into strips. The blades are arranged in spaced pairs, two blades simultaneously engaging the.;wafer to -:slice the same. Each blade is provided with an inner surface which extends generally paralwithout difficulty. The first pair of cutter blades are widely spaced and engage the slices of vegetable near the outer surfaces thereof. The next pair of blades are sequentially inwardly from the first pair of blades and longitudinally positioned beyond the first pair of blades. The-next pair of blades are beyondthe second pairof blades in the path of movement of the vegetable 'andare spaced inwardly of the second pair of blades." 'Thus, each pair of blades lies inwardly of the other pairs thereof until the final remaining strip is centrally cut by a central single blade which 'is beyond all of the other blades in the path of movement of the vegetable being cut.

A further feature of the present inventionresides in the provision of a movable receptacle or' carriage having a rounded forwardend which acts to move the vegetable along the table and over the cutters during the return 'tial contact with the cutting edges of all of the vertical blades.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more fully and clearly set foith in the following specification and claims. 7 I I In the drawings forming a part of thespecification Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a vegetable slicing apparatus, showing'in general the arrangement thereof: Figure 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus illustrated inFigurel. N Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view through the.center of the apparatus, the position of the section being indicated'by the line 3-3 of Figure 2. i H

Figure 4 is'a transverse sectional view through the apparatus, the position of the section being indicated by the line4-4ofFigure2. a Figure 5 is a perspective view of the bottom or underside of the cutter plateshowing the horizontal knife and the various vertically arranged knives. i

Figure 6 is a sectional view of a slightly-difierent form of cutter plate.

Certain details of the specific may be changed in further commercial production of-the device to somewhat simplify the arrangement illustrated. However, in general, the structure is shown as it has been made as it has been found to operate efiectively in this form. In general, the apparatus includes a generally rectangu lar frame including a supporting table 10 having downwardly extending side flanges 11 and 12 and a downwardly extending end flange 13. A transverse reinforcing them ber 14 connects the forward ends of the side flanges 11 and 12 and forms a reinforcement for the cutting portion of the apparatus.

A pair of vertical side members 15 and 16 extend up: i

at their upper extremitieswhich extend both inwardl y.

and outwardly of the sides 15. These fianges"17-"and' I9 are designed to form guide railsfor-shdably supporting construction illustrated the vegetable receptacle or carriage 20 which moves the vegetables relative to the cutting knives.

The carriage 20 includes "a pair of side walls 21 and .22 and arrearrpushingwall'23 which connects the rear ends of the sde walls 21 and 22 and'holds them in proper relation. TA guide block 24 extends rearwardly from the rear wall. 231Whll1 forms an additional support for the rear end of the carriage. The side walls may be notched as indicated at 25 "and 26 to fit over a portion of the rail .flanges '1.7-and 19 and aportion of the guide block 24 may verse connecting member .32 connects the forward ends.

of thesideavalls 21 and .22 iandthis connecting'member 32 maybeforrncd integrally with the side walls in the event the carriage is ofcast construction. The connecting memberd32 includes a forwardly directed generally V- shapednotch 33terminating centra1ly in a rounded porspaced a greater-distance from the edge 46 than are the blades 49. The blades 51 are also spaced inwardly an equal distance from the adjoining blades 49. A third set of blades 52 are struck from the plate 36 to extend at right angles thereto, the blades 52 being at a greater distance from the edge 46 than the blades 51. A'fourth set of teeth 53 are struckfrom the plate 36 at even a greater distance from the plate edge 46 A final central blade 54 is struck fromthe body of the plate 36 midway between the blades 53 and at a pointgreater spaced from the edge 46 than the blades 53.

It will be seen that the various blades are arranged in pairs, and each pair of blades is in staggered relation with the next adjoining pairs of blades, the distance between the blades of each pair graduallydiminishing untilthe strip out by the blades 53 is. centrally cut by the blade 54. The blades of onepair are staggered an equal distwice from the blades of the adjoining pairs so that strips of equal width are produced.

As is indicated in Figure 3 of the drawings, the forward end of the base panel 10 is inclined downwardly -as indicated'at 55,this incline extendingfrom a point tion.34, this arrangement being provided to center .the

vegetablein;.the carriage as the carriage moves in a rearward direction. The sides 15 and 16 and the rails and Ill-supported thereby extend throughout a major portion .of thc length of the apparatus and the sides pro ject as indicated at 35 to form a support for the cutter plate 36 and also to provide a. support for upwardly and rearwardly directed'bracket arms 37. These bracket arms 37 form-supports fora pair of oppositely disposed aligned bosses .39 which are best illustrated in'Figure 2 of the drawings and whichare located above the level of the carriage20 and on opposite sides thereof. A'pair of hell crank levers 40 are hingedly connected to the opposed bosses 39 by PlVOllbOltS 41 why other suitable pivot means. Ahandle member 42 :acts to connectan end of one lever 40 with a corresponding :end of the other lever so that both levers are secured for movement in unison. Links 43 are pivotally connected .at their forward ends by pivot bolts ,44 to the lower ends of the levers 40. The rear ends of the links; 43 are connected along aligned pivots by pivot bolts such as 45 to opposite .sidesof the carriage 20; 1 I

An examination ofYFigure l of the drawings will indicate that the levers 40 maybe actuated to move the carriage 20 from the position shown in full lines in Figure 1 ofthe drawingsto the position shown in dotted outline therein. During this time, the carriage .is .held in a hon: zontal position by engagement of the channel shaped members-3,0;and 31 with the horizontal flanges 17 and 19 somewhat forwardly of thecutt'ing edge46 to a point beneath the plate 36 1 forwardly of the cutting edge. A

generally triangular projection 56 is provided upon the base plate 10, *this projection 56; extending into close proximity with the cutting edges of the various blades is indicated in "Figure 2 of the drawings. 6 v

The edges of the various blades 49,-51, 52, 53 and 54 are sharpened, the sharp edges being directed to the right as indicated in the drawings. As is indicated in Figure 5 of the drawings, the edges are sharpened by beveling the outermost surfaces thereof asindicated at 57. As

edges tends vto guide theportions ,of the vegetable out-.

wardly of the blades being engaged in a slightly lateral direction. Thus, the strips being cut from the center portion of the vegetable are in efiect guided slightly away of the side members .15.:and 16. During themovement of the tcarriage'titl to the left from theposition illustrated in Figure 1, the vegetable which is placed in the carriage 20 to rest upon the table member 10 is carried past the cutting-blades which willbe later-described. It will be seenthatjas thevegetable is carried-by the cutter knives,

. ter plate a pair of blades 49 are bent upwardly in the inverted position of the blade to extend atright angles to the plane of the plate 36; These blades 49 are struck from the body of the plate and. are spaced a substantially equal distance from opposite side edges 50 of the cutterplate. Avsecpnd set of blades 51 are bent into .right relation 110 the :plate .36. bladesfilbein:

from the remainder of the vegetable by theshape of the knives. i r

With reference now to Figure2 of the drawings, itwill It is 'believedtthat theuoperation of the slicer-willbe I understood fromthe foregoing description. Withthe carriage in the position :shown'in full lines in Figures '1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, a vegetable to be sliced is placed in the carriage. Movement of the handle42 in a clock wise direction advances the vegetable along the table 10 .until the vegetable engages thecutting edge146. This cutting edge cuts a horizontal slice throughxthe material and the materialcontinues to advance with the carriage.

.As the slice advances forwardly, it first engages the outermost knife blades 49 and these bladesqactto cut that the downward otfset55 in the table permits the slice strips of material from opposite sides of the slice and to direct these strips outwardly to a slight degree, the .ofisets 59 and 60permitting this action. It should also be noted to be cut by the blade 46 without crowding the slice between the knife blade and the bottom of the table. As the carriage continues to move additionalslices are cut from the sides of the vegetable by ,theblades 51, the blades:

I 52, the blades 253;:8I1d finally the portion of the slice "pass-1 utting blade .54. it

As each pair of blades is situated beyond the position of the next adjoining blades, the strips being cut may be deflected outwardly by the various cutting blades so that no crowding of the vegetable between the blades is possible. Thus, the slicing operation may be accomplished with a minimum of efiort.

As is indicated in Figure 3 of the drawings, the rear wall 23 and the bearing block 24 extending rearwardly therefrom are horizontally slotted as indicated at 61 so that the rear of the carriage may move beyond the cutting edge 46. As may best be discerned from Figure 2 of the drawings, the under portion of the bearing block is partially cut away so as to be generally triangular in shape as indicated at 62. As a result, the carriage may be advanced until the edge 62 is in engagement with the forward edges of the vertical knives, the triangular portion 62 conforming to the contour of these blades when viewed in plan.

As is best indicated in Figure 3 of the drawings, an auxiliary blade 63 may be supported in a horizontal position in notches 64 in the sides 15 and 16. When in place, this blade 63 divides the vertical space between the table surface and the blade 46 so that slices only one half the thickness of the previous slices may be produced. These slices are forced through the vertical cutting blades in superimposed relation as the carriage moves to its extreme position. A slot 65 is provided in the triangular portion 62 to permit the blade 63 to be located in the manner illustrated without interfering with the movement of the carriage.

The strips of vegetables which are cut by the horizontal and vertical blades are free to drop after passing through the vertical blades and may fall upon a plate or pan placed beneath the forward end of the apparatus. As a result, the frame is supported in an elevated position such as by legs 66 pivotally connected to the flanges 11 and 12 of the frame by means of pivots 67 These pivots permit the legs to be folded upwardly so that the slicer may be more conveniently stored.

In Figure 6 of the drawings I disclose a slightly different form of cutter blade construction, it being understood that the cutting blades are bent downwardly from a plate into right angular relation thereto, as in the previous construction described. The cutter plate of Figure 6 discloses a pair of outermost cutter blades 70 which are generally parallel, and outwardly of the offsets 60 in the sides 15 and 16. The next pair of blades 71 are located beyond the blades 70 in the direction of travel of the vegetable being cut, and diverge apart slightly, being closer together at their cutting edges than at their opposite or rear edges. This arrangement permits the center blade 72 to be posi- 6 tioned midway between the blades 71 without creating compression on the portion of the vegetable being sliced, due to the angle of the blades 71. The bearing block 62 is modified in shape to accommodate the blade 72.

The next pair of blades 73 may also diverge apart from their .cutting edges as shown, to complete the cutting operation. The blades 73 are rearwardly from the blades 71 and 72. During the cutting operation, the vegetable is supported by the table 74, which is centrally notched, as indicated at 75, to accommodate the lower extremity of the central blade 72, which preferably projects below the level of the table 72.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my vegetable slicer and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiments thereof, I desire to have it understood that changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A vegetable slicer including an elongated table, a. hollow carriage slidable longitudinally of said table, bracket means on said table out of the path of movement of said carriage, bell crank lever means pivotally connected intermediate its ends to said bracket means on a pivot transverse to the direction of travel of the carriage, link means connecting an end of said lever means to said carriage, knife means over which said carriage may pass, the other end of said lever means swinging in a direction opposite the direction of travel of said carriage and downwardly toward said table as said carriage moves over said knife means, and said carriage having a generally V-shaped wall engageable with a vegetable upon reverse movement of the carriage over the knives to center the same.

2. The structure of claim 1 and in which the carriage comprises a wide flat rear wall against which the vegetable may bear during forward movement of the carriage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,150,735 Williams Mar. 14, 1939 2,441,027 Masrob May 4, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS 141,876 Great Britain Apr. 29, 1920 593,164 Great Britain Oct. 9, 1947 622,859 Great Britain May 9, 1949 757,057 Great Britain Sept. 12, 1956 

